BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Catholic churches don't usually come with a doggie door, but this hasn't stopped Bismarck's Church of Corpus Christi from having all of God's creations -- whether they're on four legs or two -- from coming in. Today, the church welcomed dozens of people and their furry companions to the "Blessings of the Pets," a ritual to thank God for one of the greatest gifts of all -- our animal friends! Msgr. Patrick Schumacher, the church's pastor, says it's a long tradition of theirs and is a way to honor the companionship, protection, and love given by our tail-wagging sidekicks. Corpus Christi's Blessing of the Pets always falls adjacent to the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of animals and nature. But it's not just cats and dogs that get to count their blessings. Schumacher says they've seen reptiles, rabbits, and even horses. "It's important for us to realize that God's creation is a gift to us," says Schumacher. "And His creation is so varied because it's all some kind of an expression of the beauty and the power of God. And our pets are one expression of that." Schumacher says he looks forward to what next year's Blessings of the Pets will bring.